71: A long-awaited intimacy, nothing more.

"Don't worry, I know the Director's Wife. I'll ask her to help take care of that lady."

"Sigh..." Tu Nan looked helpless. "I'm not targeting her, but Li is being promoted quickly. I don't want any rumors to spread and affect him."

"I understand. Male Beasts are just careless like that. Don't take it to heart."

Lisa patted Tu Nan's hand to comfort her. "Besides, the nursing staff is experienced. They won't spread a patient's nonsense."

There was no better way for now. It would be best if Fiona stopped talking too much.

But her identity was always a hidden danger; too many people on Sand Star knew... She still had to find a way to leave Sand Star, but there seemed to be no way in the short term. Thus, Tu Nan still had to continue dealing with other annoying people.

For example, Sheng Ranran and her mother.

She knew the two had used money to find a house in the same district, but she had never bumped into them on the road, so she gradually put them out of her mind. Who would have thought that when the Children were three months old, the two would show up in front of her again?

Coincidentally, they chose to appear when Li was at home.

"This is truly rare. This is the first time I've seen a Dragon-Phoenix pair." Even as Chen Fang said this, she only gave the Children a casual glance before fixing her gaze on Li.

"Oh, you didn't even notify us of such a happy occasion. We only heard about it from others. You're being too much of a stranger."

Tu Nan was speechless. Such words could only deceive a Male Beast like Li, who was missing a few brain cells.

In the entire region, who didn't know about the existence of the Two Children? For a whole month, the small courtyard had been bustling with activity every day, and the Two Children had been raised to be completely unafraid of strangers.

"You should have all the things you need to buy by now, and we don't want to cause any trouble." Chen Fang signaled to her daughter. "However, Ranran heard that you were promoted in the army? She specifically searched for this suitable gift before daring to come and see you."

"When I saw this blade at the market that day, I felt it suited you."

Sheng Ranran shyly handed over a short blade about half an arm's length.

"Didn't you say last time that you also use short blades but hadn't found a suitable one?" She pulled the scimitar from its sheath, its cold light glinting. The Female Beast looked at Li expectantly. "Try this one. If it doesn't work, I'll look for another."

Tu Nan's eyelids lifted slightly as she shot a quick glance at Li and Sheng Ranran.

The meaning behind those words... When had Li seen them? And even talked about such things?

How come she... didn't know?

"Blade!" The simple word popped out of Miao Miao's mouth.

She had just recently begun to master her tongue and was keen on uttering simple words. Little Tiger leapt straight out of the nest and pounced toward Sheng Ranran's hand holding the blade.

"Ah!" Sheng Ranran's attention hadn't shifted from Li at all, and her hand was pounced upon by the little one's thick paw pads.

She was so startled that her hand loosened, and the blade was about to fall onto the tiger cub.

Tu Nan's heart skipped a beat.

She lunged forward to stop the blade, but fortunately, a large hand accurately brought the cold light to a halt.

Li scooped Miao Miao into his arms with one hand and gripped the hilt with the other.

"Oh! The sheath! This..."

The ornate sheath fell to the ground, and one of the gems embedded in it was knocked off, rolling right to Tu Nan's feet.

Tu Nan's chest heaved with anger as she glared at Sheng Ranran: "I've never heard of giving such a Sharp Weapon to such young Children. Are you crazy?"

She stepped forward quickly, took Miao Miao from Li, and checked her over, relaxing only after confirming the child hadn't even suffered a scratch. Even so, she couldn't help but continue mocking these unwelcome guests.

"Whether you're here to see the Children or for something else, everyone knows perfectly well."

"Ugh~" Sheng Ranran couldn't believe Tu Nan would be so fierce to her. She looked at Li and lowered her head to pick up the sheath, looking like a poor little thing bullied by Tu Nan.

"Oh, don't be like that, don't be like that. It's our fault." Chen Fang laughed it off, but looking at the child in Tu Nan's arms, she said pointedly: "The Children are still small. As a mother, you should watch them more closely. It's always inappropriate to let them run around wildly."

"In the Sheng Family, Children of this age are already assigned specialized teachers for instruction." Her lips curled as she glanced back at the nest. Provoked by her subtle malice, Ao Ao transformed into his Beast Form; a small gray-black furball was already crawling out.

Chen Fang seemingly kindly advised Li: "We do have some connections and can help contact some suitable tutors."

Tu Nan sneered: "What kind? The kind of teacher who produces a daughter who specifically gives gifts to married men?"

Li frowned. "Tu Nan!"

He had recently begun thinking about his development in Mata City and the Children's future. It was said that good social relations were beneficial for Children's futures.

Furthermore, just now, even if he hadn't acted, the child could have dodged based on the trajectory.

Li's attitude disappointed Tu Nan.

She gave a cold laugh, picked up Miao Miao, and called for Ao Ao to return to the house.

Ao Ao, however, felt his mother's anger. The little guy scurried to Chen Fang's feet, picked up the fallen ruby in his mouth, and ran straight to the sewer, spitting the gem in with a "ptui."

The little wolf wagged his tail and, right in front of the two female guests, took a pee into the sewer before bouncing back toward his mother.

[Mama, don't be unhappy. I'll help you.] Ao Ao comforted Tu Nan in his heart.

"This!" Chen Fang pointed at the little guy, dumbfounded.

"Ao Ao!"

Li frowned. Although he doted on the Children, he didn't want them to develop a habit of provoking others at will.

That wouldn't be good for them later on.

He was answered by the sound of the door closing as the mother and Children entered the house.

Chen Fang and her daughter felt awkward and could only take their leave.

Before leaving, Chen Fang gave a light hmph and advised Li: "A doting mother spoils the child. Since you've joined the army, why not send the Children to the Early Training Camp early? It would help them build a foundation sooner and achieve a Breakthrough earlier in the future."

Early Training Camp... Li was actually a bit tempted.

He had heard of that place; many excellent beastmen had stayed there in their early days, but he had never had the chance growing up... "Tu Nan..." Li pushed open the door. Tu Nan was coaxing the two babies to eat.

Tu Nan turned away and ignored him.

"What's wrong with you today?"

Li was quite helpless. Tu Nan was rarely like this. He now often forgot that Tu Nan was born a Foster Mother. He had seen the wives of many colleagues; they were neither as beautiful as Tu Nan nor as dignified and generous.

"Me?" Tu Nan had always known Li wasn't calculating, but she truly hadn't expected him to be unable to see through such a simple "green tea" act.

She curled her lip.

"I'm afraid that one day a young beauty will beckon with her finger, and you'll accidentally pack up the three of us and ruin us."

"Nonsense." Li sat down beside her and stroked her smooth black hair, thinking: Tu Nan's jealousy is getting stronger. Just as the Commander said, Female Beasts just love to be jealous.

The Two Children began to doze off after eating. Li carried them to another nest in the corner of the room, covered it with a shroud, and walked back.

Fire was still burning in Tu Nan's green eyes. Li sighed and pulled her into his arms. Ignoring her struggle, he stroked her smooth black hair, leaned down, and captured her lips.

Tu Nan pushed him away reluctantly, but Li was single-minded, determined to kiss Tu Nan until she was lightheaded.

He focused on searching and chasing within her mouth.

Tu Nan's breath was gradually stolen away. His hot breath carried Tu Nan's body temperature higher and higher.

Finally, Tu Nan gave up struggling and began to respond.

Only then did Li smile with satisfaction. Indeed... the Commander was right. Don't argue with Female Beasts; at times like this, just feeding them is enough.

Meanwhile, Tu Nan's body was becoming increasingly heated from the arousal, but her mind calmed down.

She couldn't argue for a result or shout for an answer. She couldn't educate Li the way she raised Children.

That would never be realistic.

Therefore, she didn't need to Life Qi. Such things would probably only... happen more and more in the future.